The custom of substituting the word G-d for God is based on the traditional practice in Jewish law of revering God’s Hebrew name. The name most often used in the Hebrew Bible is the Tetragrammaton, YHWH, considered too sacred to be uttered aloud, and frequently anglicized as Yahweh or Jehovah. The other names of God that, once written, cannot be erased are El, Eloah, Elohim, Elohai, El Shaddai and Tzevaot. In prayers the pronunciation Adonai is used, and in discussion it is usually said as HaShem, meaning The Name.
